ConnectingOntario is a secure, provincial electronic health record (EHR) system that allows Ontario clinicians, and authorized members of their healthcare teams, to access their patients’ personal health information (e.g. lab results, diagnostic imaging reports, discharge summaries, details of a prior visit to the emergency or other department). Access to the viewer is restricted to those who provide or assist with patient care. The program is funded and overseen by eHealth Ontario. For more information on the ConnectingOntario program please visit: www.ConnectingOntario.ca.

Southlake Regional Health Centre (Southlake) is a contributing organization and provides authorized healthcare providers with access to the provincial EHR through the ConnectingOntario ClinicalViewer. This is done to improve the patient experience and ensure that hospital patients receive the care that we would want for our loved ones.

Southlake, along with all other organizations participating in the ConnectingOntario program, must follow all applicable health privacy laws (including the Personal Health Information and Protection Act, 2004) as well as the EHR privacy policies and procedures.

Consent Directives:

You have the right to block access to your personal health record in the viewer by placing a consent directive (often referred to as a lock-box). It is best to discuss the implications of placing a consent directive with a member of your healthcare team. Please note that a consent directive may be overridden with your express consent, or in other circumstances permitted by law. Consent directives can be initiated at Southlake in the Health Information Services Department, or directly with eHealth Ontario at 1-866-250-1554.

Access and Correction:

You have the right to request copies of your health records contained in the viewer or request that your record be corrected if you believe it contains an error. Please contact our Health Information Services Department if your request relates to information about a previous visit to Southlake. For all other access or correction requests in the EHR, please refer to the eHealth Ontario website here.

Inquiries and Complaints:

For privacy-related inquiries and complaints about Southlake’s participation in the ConnectingOntario program, please contact our Privacy Office at 905-895-4521 ext. 2395 or privacy@southlakeregional.org. For all other inquiries and complaints about the EHR program or the viewer, please refer to the eHealth Ontario website here.